Rachel Candaso, 2025 Burrough Wellcome Fund Northeast Region Teacher of the Year –
Rachel Candaso, who was named Pitt County Schools Teacher of the Year last March, was honored again Thursday December 19th when she was named the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Northeast Region Teacher of the Year.
Her selection marks the ninth time a PCS educator has earned the prestigious designation since 2000, and the second time in the last three years. She will now represent Pitt County Schools and the Northeast Region as she vies for state teacher of the year honors.
Candaso, who is in her fifth year in the district, is an AVID teacher and AVID site coordinator at Wellcome Middle School. “I do this for you guys and I hope you know that,” Candaso emotionally expressed when she spoke to her students from the podium. “I believe in students, I believe in your excellence and I believe anyone can be successful as long as they have the opportunity, the knowledge and the agency over their education to be great … and you have that. I hope that when you leave Wellcome, I have given you something that helps you in the next four years of high school and beyond. That’s what I strive for every day.”
PPS-PC 2025 Spring School Tour Series –
PPS-PC, in partnership with Pitt County Schools, hosts a Spring School Tour Series annually. During the tour series a school tour is offered at each public school in Pitt County. The 2025 School Tour Series begins on February 3rd and concludes on March 13th. Tours typically last 45 minutes to 1 hour and are led by a school staff member. Children are invited and encouraged to attend the tour with their family. You will receive an email reminder about the tour you signed up to attend 2 days prior to the tour. We look forward to seeing you at one or more school tours!
Thank you to the 2025 Spring School Tour Series Sponsors – Children’s Health Services and Pitt Community College for helping make the tour series possible.
-If a translator is needed for a tour please email jbreazeale@ppspittcounty.org to indicate that need.
Sign up to attend one or more tours – https://signup.com/go/rVZVRJw
PCS 2025-2026 Proposed Calendar –
The proposed Pitt County Schools 2025-26 traditional school year calendar is now available for review and PCS welcomes and encourages feedback. Please visit bit.ly/4fo266E to access the calendar and survey (available in English and Spanish).
There continue to be many questions about the possibility of starting the school year earlier to allow for the fall semester to conclude and for high school students to complete final exams prior to winter break. State law sets the earliest date that districts are allowed to start school and the proposed 2025-26 calendar meets the requirement set by that law. Districts can apply for a waiver to be able to set their own start date but there are certain requirements that must be met to be eligible to apply for a waiver and Pitt County does not meet those requirements and is therefore unable to apply for a waiver. Parents and community members who would like for districts to be able to set the start date deemed best for the school district are encouraged to advocate for that choice with elected NC state senators and representatives.
